Car coupler



Sept. 6, 1960 2,951,597

W. J. METZGER CAR COUPLER if 4 y( 7 INVENTOR. W/LL/AM J METZGER 9 A'r'roRA/EY Sept. 6, 1960 w. J. METZGER CAR COUPLER Filed Nov. 18, 1957W. J. METZGER CAR COUPLER sept. 6, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 18,1957 INVENTOR.

M//LL/AM J /l/.sTzE/r BY rroRN/z Y v1,201,665 and 1,614,515, issued toJohn Willison.

Unite j CAR ocurran Filed Nov. 18, 1957, Ser. No. 697,244

13 claims. (ci. 213-100) This invention relates to car couplers of arigid-jawed type, such as shown in the United States patents, Nos. Inparticular, it relates to lock-setting mechanism in a coupler of thistype having a reciprocable lock member.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a coupler of the typecharacterized by a pair of transversely spaced, relatively rigid jawswith a lock-setting mechanism of simple, trouble-free design, andparticu- `larly to apply lock-setting mechanism to that type of oulplerutilizing a spring-loaded horizontally reciprocable A further object isto provide a lock-setting mechanism for a coupler of theabove-mentionedtype which may be manually tripped off of the lock-setting positionwithout the separation of the coupled couplers in which such mechanismis embodied.

Another object is to provide lock-setting mechanism adapted for use in aconventional double-jawed type of coupler with minor modificationthereof. Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent as the invention is described hereinbelow.

The invention, in brief, resides in mechanism for setting the lock of afixed-jaw type coupler in an uncoupling position in opposition to aspring, other resilient member, or gravity tending to urge the lock toits coupler-locking position. Such mechanism comprises, in essence, alever or other detent means pivotally connected with the lock forreciprocation therewith, and a pawl having a rearward-facing surface forengaging the lever and holding it and, consequently, the lock in aposition permitting the uncoupling of two couplers. The coupler has atransverse wall connecting the jaws and providing an opening throughwhich the pawl may move forwardly to engage the surface of anothercoupler brought into proximity of the wall, In the coupler head isprovided a stop limiting the rearward movement of the pawl and acting,under certain circumstances, as a guide for lateral movement of thepawl, and a surface for camming or shifting the pawl in a lateraldirection out of engagement with the lever as the pawl advancesforwardly following the withdrawal of another coupler from the recess between the coupler jaws. The pawl and lever are further provided withinterengaging cam and cam-following surfaces adapted to displace thepawl in the above-mentioned lateral direction so that the portion of thelever which engages the rearward surface may be shifted along with thelock to their respective lock-setting positions;

In the drawing with respect to which the invention is described:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view, with portions broken away and insection, showing a coupler embodying the finvention with its partsarranged as when coupled with another similar coupler;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section and `with partsbroken away, of the coupler arranged as illustrated in Fig. 1;

States Patent O Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, K

rifice 2 of the coupler shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in the lock-setcondition; V

Fig. 4 illustrates in fragmentary partially sectioned elevation, thearrangement of the coupler as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation in section, omitting the lock andshowing primarily a pawl and a lever of the lock-setting mechanism inlock-set position;

Fig. 6 is 'a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, showing the partsof Fig. 5 at one stage of operation;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the internal moving parts ofthe coupler shown in the previous figures; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation in section, showing lock-settingmechanism embodying a modified pawl.

As is illustrated in Figs. 1-4, a coupler 4 embodying the presentinvention 'comprises a shank 5 and a head portion 6 having jaws 7 and 8which are transversely spaced and connected by a buiiing wall 9 to forma cavity 10. The head 6 also has attached thereto a lateral guard arm 11of which its forward surface 12 is adapted for engagement with theforward surface 14 of a similar opposed coupler to align horizontallymisaligned couplers during coupling operations.

The jaw 8 and a lock 1.5 mounted in adjacent reciprocable slidingrelationship therewith are adapted to be positioned in the cavity 10 ofanother similar coupler and are trapped therein when the lock 15 and thecorresponding lock of the other coupler are in their `forward positions.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 7, the lock 15 comprises a stem 16, havinga bifurcate portion forming the legs 17 and 18 and an opening 19provided for a purpose hereinafter discussed. In the normal orientationof the coupler, the stem of the lock extends horizontally rearwardlywithin the head 6 through the guide opening 13 of a lug 20. The lock isurged forwardly by a spring 21 conned between the forward surface of thelug 20 and a shoulder formed on the lock by the juncture of the legs 17and 18 with the cylindrical portion of the stem. The forward portion ofthe lock is supported and guided in a horizontal ambit in a conventionalmanner by a guide lug 24 protruding from the inner surface of the jaw 8shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2., centered at a level approximatelythat of the axis of the stem 16. The surface :of the lock adjacent thejaw 8 has a groove or recess 2S of which the vertical width is onlyslightly greater than that of the lug 24. Thus, the forward portion ofthe lock is supported in horizontal movement such as a pin 27, whichextends through a bore in a horizontal direction formed in the upperpart of the head. The lever comprises a handle 28 which protrudesupwardly out of the head sufficiently to provide accessibility formanual operation. The lower leg 29 of the lever 26 extends downwardly ina radial direction from the pin 27 and then branches in laterallyopposite directions as extensions 30 and 31. The leg extension 31extends through the opening 19 of the lock 15 toward `the guard arm sideof the coupler head, and terminates outboardly of the lock in a lug 31Aprojecting downwardly from the horizontal cylindrical portion of theextension.

As couplers are designed for long periods of service during a large partof which the parts may have become worn to a degree allowing a greatdeal of sloppiness or play, the purpose of the lug 31A is to provide anadditional surface 31B, assuring that the lever 26 will engage itsforward stop 24, regardless of wear, and that the lower end of the leverwill not be likely to accidentally be withdrawn from the opening 19 withconsequent loss vof the lock or non-operation thereof.

The leg extension 31 and the opening 19 ,are interrelated in size sothat the lock and the lever are in reciprocal driving and followingrelationship. That is to say, the lever or the lock may be driven byeach other in reciprocal movements. Of course, the opening 19 is largeenough to accommodate the rise and fall of the extension 31 as ittravels along an arc about the axis of the pin 27 With the exception ofthe lug 31A and the extension 30, just discussed, the foregoingdiscussion 'relates to structure of the prior art. The essentialimprovement provided by the present invention is a lock-settingmechanism for a coupler, such as just described, comprising theextension 30 of the lever 26, a pawl 32 swingably mounted on the pin 27,and certain portions of the coupler head structure hereinafter to bedescribed in detail.

AAs shown, the projection 30 extends from the main portion of the leg 29toward the pawl 32 in a direction approximately parallel to the axis ofthe pin 27 and away from the lock 15.

The pawl 32 has an operative ambit in which it is both pivotable andcapable of radial movement relative to the axis of pin 27 transverselyof the longitudinal direction of the coupler by provision of a slot oroblong opening 33 (upwardly elongated at the rearward position of thepawl) through which extends the pin 27. Thus, as the pawl swingsforwardly about the pin 27, in response to the thrust exerted on itssurface 44 by the extension 30, and reaches its maximum forwardposition, as shown in Fig. 6, the pawl is forced upwardly by slidingcontact of the pawl leg 34 on an inclined cam surface 35 of a ridge 39of the head and thus shifted longitudinally in a direction normal to theaxis of the pin 27 to the extent allowed by the length of the opening33. Thus, the construction just described limits the movement of thepawl 32 generally to a vertical longitudinal plane of the coupler.

Preferably, the length of this opening is less than that which willallow either the forward leg 37 or the rear leg 34 of the pawl to passover the top of the ridge 39. Thus, at the forwardmost position of thepawl, as seen in Fig. 6, the forward surface 34a of the rear legoverlaps, to a small extent, the rear surface 35 of the ridge 39. Atthis position the bottom of the opening 33 has engaged the pin 27. Asoptional or additional means for stopping the forward motion of the pawl32, a convex wall corner surface 40 and a front concave corner surface46 may be adapted to engage at the desired forwardmost position of thepawl. The essential requirement is that the rear pawl leg 34 remains onthe surface 35 so that the pawl will settle by gravity, back to theposition shown in Figs. 7 and 2, and to avoid the situation in which, ifthe leg 34 passed over the edge 41, the pawl would settle forwardly ofthe ridge 39 and require special or emergency manipulation.

The side of the pawl 32 facing toward the lever 26 is notched to providea downwardly-facing, rearwardly inclined surface 43, shown in Fig. 7,overhanging the lever extension 30. The lower side of the notch isformed by a relatively narrow surface indicated by the dotted lines 42.The lock 15, as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 7, occupies its normally forwardposition for locking the coupler in coupled relation with anothersimilar coupler. However, to use the lock-setting mechanism, it isnecessary to shift the lock to a rearward position in which it is heldby the mechanism.

The lever extension 30 extends from a lateral direction,

'as shown, into the ambit of the pawl, particularly, that portion of`the pawl overhanging the notch 52. In

setting the lock, the lever 26 is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection (as Viewed in the figures) to carry the extension 30rearwardly into engagement with the overhanging cam surface 43 of thepawl. Because of the rearward inclination of this surface, and theelongation of the pawl opening 33, the pawl is forced upwardly as theextension 30 travels along an arc at a fixed radial distance from thepin 27. At the instant the extension 30 passes to the rear of thesurface 43, the pawl drops by gravity in front of the extension 30,which then engages a rear surface 44 of the pawl, as shown in Fig. 5.Fig. 4 is also illustrative of this position and shows the lock in itsrearwardmost position.

During the rearward movement of the lever extension 30, the pawl tendsto be forced rearwardly, causing the rear surface 36 of the forward legof the pawl to engage the forward surface 3S of the ridge 39 which, ofcourse, limits the rearward movement of the pawl. However, when theextension 30 becomes latched behind thepawl, i.e., in engagement withsurface 44 and the manual force overcoming the spring 21 isdiscontinued, the pawl will swing forward if not held. It should beespecially noted that the pawl, in order to render the lock-settingmechanism operative, is held in the position shown in Figs. 3, 4 and`5by the jaw 8 of another coupler in engagement with the pawl surface 46,as seen in Fig. 1.

In the position typified by Figs. l, 3, 4 and 5, the pawl is held in thelock-set position by a portion 47 of another coupler (see Fig. 1)positioned in the cavity 10 against the front-facing surface 45 of thepawl. In this position, pressure exerted on the lock by the spring 21will shift the movable parts of the coupler to the position shown inFig. 6, if the pawl 32 is not held from swingingout of approximateabutment of its forward leg 37 with the ridge 39.

Rearward retention of the pawl is effected by the bufng jaw 8 of theother coupler 4, outlined in dot-dash in Fig. 1. However, as the othercoupler moves away from the bufiing wall 48, as shown in Fig. 6, thepawl follows the jaw 8 and is cammed upwardly by the surface 35, therebycausing the extension 30 to move downwardly along the surface 44 andaround the corner 49 defining its lower edge. Thereafter, the extensionis disposed in the notch 52 along the rear side (as observed in Fig. 7)of the pawl, and the lever and the lock are free to move to theirforwardmost positions while the pawl is free to settle to its rearmostposition, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7.

Through inadvertent operation, it is occasionally desirable to restorethe coupler to a coupling-locked position from the lock-set positionwithout separating the cars on which the couplers have been lock-set.All that is necessary in this case is to (referring now to Figs. 4 and5) move the pawl upwardly until its surface 44 is raised above the leverextension 3l?. The lock is then thrust forwardly by the spring 21 to itsIlocking position and the lock-setting mechanism thereupon snaps back tothe position as shown in' Figs. 1, 2 and 7. For operating the pawl inthis manner, a handle 519 is attached to the upper end `of the pawl andexposed above the top surface of the coupler head for accessibility inmanual operation.

Fig. 8 illustrates a modified pawl 32A and a moditied coupler head 6A.In modifying the pawl 32A from the form shown in the earlier figures,the double leg construction of the pawl has been eliminated andsupplanted by a downwardly extending tooth 53. The coupler headconstruction of the 1wrevious embodiment illustrated the previousfigures has been modified by eliminating the cam ridge 39 andsubstituting in lieu thereof an opening 54 defined by a stop surface 55and a cam surface 56 which function in place of the stop surface 38 andthe inclined surface 35 of the ridge 39, respectively. In a like manner,the forward surface 58 and the rear perpendicular surface 59 of thetooth 53 on the pawl are substituted for the inclined rear leg frontsurface 34a -and the front leg rear surface 36 of the pawl 32,respectively, of the earlier described embodiment. The lower boundary 62of the notch 61 in the side of the pawl toward the lever is spacedsufficiently from the upper boundary 63 to permit free travel of theextension 30 through the notch 61 in both forward and rearward strokes.

In operation, the pawl 32A functions in a manner entirely analogous tothat of the pawl 32 of the earlier described embodiment. During coupledrelationship, the pawl 32A of one coupler is retained in its rearwardlockset position (as shown in Fig. 8) by the jaw of another coupler. lfthe jaw of the latter coupler then moves out of the cavity providedtherefor by the coupler having the pawl 32A, the pawl follows the jaw ofthe other coupler and, in so doing, is both pivoted about the pin 27 andcammed upwardly as a result of the surface 58 sliding forwardly andupwardly over the surface 56. Meanwhile, the lever extension 30, inresponse tov urging of lever by the spring 21 in a clockwise movement,passes forwardly and around the corner 64 and through the notch 61. Thusreleased, the pawl 32A, irnpelled by gravity, settles downwardly andbackwardly into the position illustrated by `guidance provided bycontact of the periphery of the opening 54 with the tooth 53. In thelock-setting operation, the lever 26 is forced counterclockwise to camthe pawl 32A upwardly by engagement `of the extension 30, as the lattermoves rearwardly, with the upper, downwardly-facing surface 63 of thenotch 61. Meanwhile, the rear tooth surface 59 slidably engages the rearsurface 55 of the opening to ensure the upward movement of the pawl 67by preventing it from swinging backwardly.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation and there is no intention, in the useof such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A car coupler comprising: a pair of relatively fixed transverselyspaced jaws disposed at the forward end of the coupler; a lock movablerelative to the jaws between a forward locking position between the jawsand a rearward unlocking position; means urging the lock forwardlyrelative to the jaws; detent means pivotally connected with said lockfor reciprocation therewith; a pawl having a rearward facing abutmentsurface; means for movably supporting the pawl within the coupler withthe movement thereof limited generally to a longitudinal vertical plane;said abutment surface being aligned with the detent means in alongitudinal direction of the coupler; said pawl being movable forwardlyand rearwardly in response to movements of another coupler into and outof coupled relation with the first named coupler; at a rearward positionof the pawl corresponding to coupled relationship of said couplers, saidabutment surface engaging said detent means and disposing the detentmeans in a rearward position placing the lock in said unlockingposition.

2. In a car coupler having -a pair of transversely spaced jaws disposedat the forward end of the coupler and a lock supported in the coupler inforward to rearward reciprocable adjacent relation with one of the jawsfor movement from a forward locking position between the jaws to arearward unlocking position; a lock-setting mechanism comprising:resilient means urging the lock forwardly into said locking position;detent means pivotally connected with said lock for reciprocationtherewith; a pawl having a rearward facing surface for engaging thedetent means, and a forward facing surface; means for movably supportingthe pawl within the coupler generally limiting the movement thereof to alongitudinal vertical plane; said rearward facing surface being alignedin a longitudinal direction of the coupler with a portion of the detentmeans for engagement therewith; said forward facing surface beingengageable with an opposing surface of another coupler similar to saidcoupler; said pawl, when engaged with said other coupler through saidforwardly-facing surface, being movable forwardly and rearwardly inresponse to movements of said other coupler into and out of coupledrelation with the iirst named coupler; said pawl, at a rearward positionthereof corresponding to coupled relationship of said couplers, engagingsaid detent means through said rearward facing surface, and disposingVthe detent means in a rearward position placing the lock. in saidunlocking position, said resilient means acting through the lock and thedetent means to urge the pawl forwardly; and cam means in ixed relationwith the jaws for acting 0n the pawl to shift it out of engagement withthe detent means during forward movement of the pawl.

3. In a car coupler having a pair of transversely spaced jaws disposedat the forward end of the coupler and a lock supported in the coupler inforward to rearward reciprocable adjacent relation with one of the jawsfor movement from a forward locking position between the jaws to arearward unlocking position, `and a transverse wall connecting rearwardportions of said jaws; a locksetting mechanism comprising: resilientmeans urging the lock into said locking position; detent means pivotallyconnected on said lock for reciprocation therewith; a pawl having arearward surface for engaging the detent means and -a forward facingsurface for engaging the surface of another coupler in proximity withsaid wall; means supporting the pawl for movement within the couplerlimited generally to a longitudinal vertical plane; said pawl being vengageable with said other coupler through said forward facing surfacefor following movements of said other coupler into and out of coupledrelation. with the iirstnamed coupler; said pawl, at a rearward positionthereof corresponding to coupled relationship of said couplers, engagingsaid detent means through said rearward facing surface and disposing thedetent means in a rearward position placing the lock in said unlockingposition; and cam means in fixed relation with the jaws for engaging thepawl during movement forwardly from its rearward position to shift itout of engagement with said rearwardly facing surface.

4. In a car coupler having a pair of transversely spaced jaws `disposedat the forward end of the coupler and a lock supported in forward torearward reciprocable adjacent relation with one of the jaws formovement from a `forward locking position between the jaws to a rearwardunlocking position; the jaws having opposed facing surfaces of which therearward ends are connected by a transverse wall; a lock-settingmechanism comprising: resilient means urging the look into said lockingposition; detent means pivotally connected on said lock forreciprocation therewith; la pawl having a rearward facing surface forengaging the detent means, and a forward facing surface for engaging thesurface of another coupler in proximity with said wall; means formovably supporting the pawl in the coupler with the movement thereoflimited generally to an operative ambit within a longitudinal verticalplane, said ambit extending forwardly through an opening in said w-all;said rearward facing surface being aligned in a longitudinal directionof the coupler with ia portion of the detent means for engagementtherewith; said pawl being movable forwardly and rearwardly with itsforward facing surface engaged with said other couplerV in response tomovements of said other coupler into and out of coupled relation withthe first-named coupler; said pawl, at a rearward position thereofcor-responding to coupled relationship of said couplers, engaging saiddetent means through said rearward facing surface, and disposing thedetent means in a rearward position placing the lock in said unlockingposition; cam means in iixed relation with the jaws for engaging thepawl as it moves forwardly in said ambit to shift it vertically out ofengagement with the detent means; stop means in fixed relation with thejaws for limiting the rearward movement of the pawl to approximatelysaid rearward position thereof; interengaging cam and cam followingsurfaces on said detent means and the pawl for shifting the pawlupwardly to an elevation permitting passage of the detent means underthe lower end of said rearward facing surface as the detent means isforced rearwardly to a position of engagement with said rearwardsurface.

5. In a car coupler having a pair of horizontally transversely spacedjaws disposed at the forward end of the coupler of which the opposedfacing surfaces are connected at their rearward ends by a transversewall, and a lock supported for rec-iprocation in the longitudinaldirection of the coupler adjacent one of said surfaces; a locksettingmechanism comprising: resilient means urging the lock forwardly into aposition between the jaws for interlocking the coupler with anothersimilar coupler; a lever pivotally supported by a coupler portion infixed relation with the jaws along a pivotal axis in horizontaltransverse relation to the coupler length, said lever being connected byfa portion thereof spaced from said pivotal axis in loose pivotalconnection with the lock connecting said lock and lever in reciprocativedriving and following relationship; a pawl in swingable and reciprocableguide relation with supporting means at the pivotal axis of the leverland having an 1operative ambit disposed generally within a plane normalto said yaxis and extending through an opening in said wall; the leverhaving an extension projecting into said ambit; the pawl having arearwardfacing surface for engaging said extension and a forward facingsurface for engaging the surface of another coupler in proximity withsaid wall; and cam means in fixed relation with the jaws Vfor guidingthe pawl in a generally upward direction during forward swingingmovements to an elevation effecting disengagement of the rearward facingsurface from said extension.

6. -The car coupler of claim 5 wherein: the pawl is `acted upon bygravity to return it to a lower position as occupied in locked andlock-set conditions of the coupler; and the coupler comprises stop meansproviding an upwardly-extending forwardly-facing gu-ide surface Iforlimiting the rearward movement of the pawl; said extension and the pawlhave interengaging cam and cam following surfaces for shifting the pawlupwardly to an elevation allowing passage of the pawl under the lowerend of said rearward facing surface as the lever is swung rearwardly toa position of engagement with said rearward facing surface; said pawlremaining in slidable engagement with said guide surface until passageof the lever under the lower end of said rearward facing surface.

7. In a car coupler having a head comprising: a pair of transverselyspaced jaws of which the opposed facing surfaces are vertical and areconnected at their rearward ends by a transverse wall having an openingtherethrough, and a lock supported for reciprocation in the longitudinaldirection of the coupler adjacent one of said surfaces; Ia lock-settingmechanism comprising: resilient means urging the lock forwardly to oneend of its reciprocal ambit, said lock having a transverse opening; axlemeans having an axis fixed with respect to the head extendingapproximately horizontally and transversely relative to the couplerlength; a pawl having an opening through which the axle means extends,said pawl opening being elongated in an upward direction norm-al to saidaxis and lengthwise of the pawl for transverse movement of the pawlrelative to the axle means, said pawl being supported on the axle meansat a point rearwardly of the opening for swinging along an ain-bitextending through the wall opening; a lever pivotally supported by theaxle means with a leg portion extending between the lock and the pawl,an extension of the leg extending in one lateral direction into saidlock opening and another extension of the leg extending in an oppositelateral direction into the `ainbit of the pawl; the pawl having arearward-facing surface for engaging said other extension and aforwardfacing surface for engaging the surface of another coupler inproximity to said wall; stop means in fixed relation with the headproviding an upwardly extending guide surface for limiting the rearwardmovement of the pawl; and cam means in Ifixed relation with the headacting on the pawl during forward swinging movements thereof about saidaxis for shifting the pawl in a lateral direction relative to the axlemeans to disengage its rearward-facing surface from said otherextension.

8. The coupler of claim 7 wherein: said pawl has a downward-facing camsurface extending rearwardly and downwardly -along the side of the pawlfacing the lever and terminating at the lower end of saidrearward-facing surface; said cam surface being spaced from said axis,at the lowest position of the pawl, for engagement with said otherextension.

9. The coupler of claim 7 wherein: said pawl has a .front leg yand :arear leg forming an intermedia-te notch and the head provides :asaw-tooth ridge extending upwardly into said notch; the front surface ofthe ridge adapted for engaging the `rear surface `of the 'fron-t leg andconstituting said stop means; the rear surface of the ridge lbeinginclined forwardly .and upwardly and in combination with the forwardsurface of `the rear leg constituting said cam means.

l0. The coupler of `claim 9 wherein: said pawl has a downward-facing cam.surface extending rearwardly and downwardly along the side of the pawlfacing the lever `and terminating at the lower end of saidrearwardfacing surface, said cam surface being spaced from said axis atlthe lowest position of the pawl, for engagement with said otherextension.

l1. The co-upler of claim 7 wherein: the head is provided with a recessimmediately under the pawl; and the bottom of the pawl comprises aninverted saw-tooth portion adapted to t in the recess; the rear surfaceof said recess constituting said stop means; the forward sur-J face ofthe saw-tooth portion being inclined upwardly and forwardly and incombination with the forward surface of the recess constituting said cammeans.

12. The coupler of claim ll, wherein: said pawl has a downwardly-facingcam surface extending rearwardly Iand downwardly along the side of thepawl facing the lever :and terminating at the lower end of saidrearwardfacing surface, said cam surface being spaced from said axis, atthe lowest position of the pawl, `for engagement with said otherextension.

13. The coupler of claim 7 comprising: ya handle attached to the upperend of the pawl and extending to a manually accessible region exteriorlyof the head.

References Cited in the tile of this patent l UNITED STATES rATENTs2,591,275 Metzger Apr. 1, 19152

